Harpy; Frauenadler

The harpy is a monster from Greek myth, where it’s defined as a vulture with the head and breast of a woman, whose reputation is for bloodthirst. The harpy is found as a charge in the arms of Entyrdene or Tenterden, c.1460 [RH; also Dennys 127]; frequently, only the woman’s head is shown, not the breasts. The harpy’s default posture seems to be close and guardant, but this is frequently made explicit.

Two other woman-bird monsters are usually classed as harpies, though their connotations differ. Like the harpy, they have the head and breast of a woman. The “frauenadler” has the body of an eagle; it’s a German charge, found in the arms of Rysdorfer or Rysdorp, c.1370 [Gelre 98], and more famously in the civic arms of Nürnberg, early 16th Century [Dennys 129]. Its default posture seems to be displayed and guardant, but again, this is frequently made explicit.

The “sirin harpy” is a charge unique to the Society: a benign creature from Russian legend, with the body of a partridge. Its “proper” coloration is with Caucasian human parts, the plumage a mix of brown, grey and purple, with no one color predominating. Like the standard harpy, the sirin harpy seems to be close by default.

Szabó Éva Mária bears: Sable, a harpy and on a chief argent two roses gules.